It's been since April since Chad has seen a doctor about his gastrointestinal problems. The last series of tests were as follows
December 2018 - A Gastroparesis Test. Normal results.
March 2019 - Colonoscopy. All clear.
March 2019 - Endoscopy. Barret's Esophagus diagnosis (didn't explain any of his issues, just another 'thing' to add to his list)
Today, we went back to Dr. Swain (General Surgeon who originally diagnosed Chad with appendix cancer), with a long list of approvals from the VA. Chad's current VA doctor seems to be more than willing to provide authorization for a multitude of tests that may or may not give us some answers as to the seemingly never-ending issues he has, with specifics to his digestion issues.
Brief Recap: Ever since Chad's surgery in March of 2015 he has had issues with digestion. Bloating, pain, cramping and for over a year now vomiting. His diet basically consists of Popsicles, chips and pizza because everything he tries to consume (even liquid) lead to an eventual episode of intense cramping and vomiting. Some weeks are better than others and while he cannot eat, he doesn't vomit every day. Other weeks, he is vomiting every other day and is just miserable.
Through discussions of the approved tests, the concept of SIBO (Small Intestinal bacterial overgrowth) has come up.
SIBO - Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a serious condition affecting the small intestine. It occurs when bacteria that normally grow in other parts of the gut start growing in the small intestine. That causes pain and diarrhea. It can also lead to malnutrition as the bacteria start to use up the body’s nutrients.
- pain in the stomach, especially after eating
- bloating
- cramps
- diarrhea
- constipation
- indigestion
- regular feeling of fullness
- gas
His next step is an appointment on September 9th. The name of the test eludes me but it will basically be some sort of test to see how liquid passes through his small intestine. The results of that will determine the next step.
Edit: The rest on September 9th is the following;
Small Bowel Follow Through. A Small Bowel Follow Through is an x-ray exam of your stomach and the upper section of the small intestine. To be able to see these structures on an x-ray they must be outlined with barium. Barium is a liquid that is swallowed and appears white on a x-ray picture.
We also have a consult in November with Dr. Green/Finch who can handle more of the other types of tests that the VA has approved. We're hoping to get in sooner than Novermber though, so I'll keep you posted,
As for right now - same stuff, different day. But at least the ball is moving again ..................
